Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 1, 2017                                                                                             Contact:  Ellen M. Ganley, Director of Development  508 762-9807

EGanley@WCAC.net 

New faces focus on employment opportunities

WCAC Job & Education Center sets pathway for success

Worcester, Massachusetts - Worcester Community Action Council, Inc. recently welcomed two new staff members to its Job & Education Center team - Case Manager Jacqueline Cox and Job Developer Kwesi Foster.

Ms. Cox assists clients with job searching, building resumes, mock interviews and other wrap around supports to help them achieve their goals. Working with participants in the Secure Jobs Initiative, Urban Agenda, and Working Cities Initiative, many are facing homelessness, are lacking educational credentials and are either unemployed or underemployed. She credits her own past personal experience living in a shelter with providing her the empathy needed to help her clients. "They face many obstacles but I can provide the advice and direct them to the resources to assist them reach a better place," she said, describing her WCAC clients as incredibly motivated and noting that nearly all of her clients are enrolled in a training program or working. 

Ms. Cox holds a certificate in drug and alcohol counseling and has one year left in her pursuit of a Bachelor's degree in Forensic Psychology from Becker College. She most recently worked as a case manager at Friendly House.

Mr. Foster will focus on business engagement in order to bolster employment and internship opportunities for local youth. Through the JobOne initiative, he is part of the team working to prepare the next generation of employees through professionally developed work-readiness training and creating career pathway opportunities by making it easier for employers to connect with youth who are ready to work."I enjoy exposing kids to new opportunities to help them determine what they like and don't like," he said. "Providing guidance and structure through work opportunities can offset the other obstacles they might be facing and set them on a career pathway."

Mr. Foster holds a degree in business management with a focus on finance and marketing from Springfield College. He most recently worked as an operations, communication and administrative specialist for the Central Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board.

About WCAC

For more than fifty years, the Worcester Community Action Council has served as the federally designated anti-poverty agency for central and southern Worcester County, with a mission of helping people move to economic self-sufficiency through programs, partnerships and advocacy.

Serving the City of Worcester and 45 neighboring communities of Auburn, Blackstone, Boylston, Brimfield, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Holden, Holland, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Grafton, Leicester, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Monson, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northborough, Northbridge, Palmer, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southbridge, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Wales, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield and Westborough.  

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